Mayor Kerr sends the shire’s message south
Brisbane trip
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr and CEO Rachel Brophy made a significant trip to Brisbane earlier this week when they showed the shire’s support for the southern state flood victims at a function held by the Premier at Parliament House.
Storms bringing lightning and torrential rain hit parts of south-east Queensland already devastated by flooding earlier this year.
Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner said at the time it deemed the recent flooding disaster bigger “in many ways” and more widespread than 2011, with some affected suburbs flooding again this morning.
Meanwhile, Kerr and Brophy used the opportunity to engage with ministers that have not yet had the opportunity to recently visit our region.
“Being so far away from Brisbane often makes it difficult to be present in minister’s minds so I believe it is important that we take every opportunity to gain an audience with them and utilise these occasions to discuss the local issues that our small shire in the Far North has.
“Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick and along with Assistant Local Government Minister Nikki Boyd made the commitment to visit our region,” said Kerr.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy were keen to talk about the Wangetti Trail and the ongoing commitment to see that project through, both have also committed to personally visit the region in the near future.
The Mayor also had the opportunity to speak with Housing Minister Leanne Enoch about housing issues around the state. This is a conversation being had by many. Water was another a topic that is always on the front of many people’s minds.
Wangetti Trail
The Wangetti Trail will be Queensland’s first purpose built walking and mountain biking track in a national park and one of Australia’s leading adventure based ecotourism experiences, attracting visitors on an international scale.
The Queensland Government is delivering the $41.4 million Wangetti Trail in Tropical North Queensland. The 94km walking and mountain biking trail will stretch from Palm Cove to Port Douglas and will showcase the stunning coastal and hinterland scenery of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef.
To deliver the project $33.4 million of State funds has been allocated to the construction of the trail complemented by the Australian Government’s investment of $8 million into the project from the National Tourism Icon’s Program.